Making a decision that no one else agrees with is never easy. I guess that's probably why I have a history of backing down (or at least thinking about it) from decisions that I make. Even when Joshua and I first got married, I second guessed myself because I was too worried about what my family would think. I eventually got over it, but for the longest time it really hurt me that people didn't approve. That was my first lesson with the old saying - You can't win them all. & I didn't. I still haven't won many in various situations of my life. That's how it is, though. & With hopes that I don't sound pious or full of myself, I'll say this: I'd rather be right and have people hate me. The cost of giving in and compromising what I believe is too high.
The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are very encouraging to me in this situation. (Daniel 3) They were asked to do something that interfered with their beliefs and they said no. (The punishment for not following was death.) King Nebuchadnezzar then threatened to throw them into a fiery furnace seven times hotter than it's normal temperature and they still stood their ground. They faced the ultimate adversity, made the king very unhappy, and they still chose to worship their God. They didn't care about what the people would think, but instead kept their focus on pleasing God. As a result, they were blessed. Not only did God deliver them from the fire, but others were able to see what their God could because they stood on Him.
There are many different reasons why we should stand our ground and not waver from what we believe in ... and today this one comes to mind:
Others can see it. King Nebuchadnezzar saw that their God took care of them and called Him "blessed." If Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had backed down, the king would have never seen what God could do. Their testimony would have been blown.
This takes faith, this takes looking past what we can see right now. It's seeing that even though we are in a fire by making these disagreeable decisions, someone could later receive a blessing from it.
"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. " 2 Corinthians 4:18
"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." James 1:8
"Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle." 2 Thessalonians 2:15
You can't win them all. The only one that matters is the Lord anyway.
Now I just really need to trust that instead of worrying about what everyone else thinks.
Well said, Amy!
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ReplyDeleteHad a lot of mispells sorry. What I said was, I agree totally with Heather, well said. I am so proud you are learning these things at such a young age. I use to be bad about second guessing myself or worrying what someone else thought about me. I also tried to please everyone, but all I accomplished there was making myself tired and sick. I love how you speak from the heart and speak your mind. Never, ever stop doing that. It's true what they say, with age comes knowledge. I wish I had this knowledge when I was young. Be sure and instill this into your daughter so she will grow to be a strong young woman with her own strong beliefs, and never compromise yourself or your beliefs. The only worry any of us should have is our own family and God will help us with that. He never fails us if we always look to him. xxx from me. P.S. how is pregnancy number 2 doing?
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